2021–22
why Generous financial support Commitment to student success Opportunities that span the globe Preparation for your future career Vibrant college town with a caring community
Graduate students are central to Cornell’s mission of research and a valued part of the greater Cornell community.
welcome to
Diana Obregon Corredor, a doc toral student in entomology from Bogota, Colombia, researches the impact of natural habitat loss and pesticide use on bee communities in tropical agricul tural settings. With the help of a Graduate School Research Travel Grant, Corredor traveled to the Colombian Andes to conduct experiments in livestock and fruit-producing farms. “This grant was fundamental to obtain core information for my dissertation.” Corredor chose Cornell because she knew her advisor would be a great mentor and her research ideas would fit with her advisor’s lab and interests on tropical agro ecosystems. She was a ttracted by Cornell’s impressive reputation as “some of the most renowned entomologists in the world are Cornell alumni.” When she got here, she was pleasantly surprised to find “Ithaca is a great town to live in with a very welcoming and progressive community.”
understanding
your offer Minimum offer for doctoral degrees:
52,256
$
TOTAL OFFER AMOUNT How this breaks down:
28,036
$
minimum
NINE-MONTH STIPEND
20,800
$
minimum
ANNUAL TUITION
for a research degree*
CORNELL CURRENTLY FUNDS
95%
OF OUR ON-CAMPUS
DOCTORAL STUDENTS
IF YOU ARE A
DOCTORAL STUDENT
your offer will contain a competitive funding package that includes: • Tuition • Health insurance • Living allowance or stipend
3,420
$
HEALTH INSURANCE
annual individual coverage
* Tuition varies by field and degree. Visit gradschool.cornell.edu/tuition for a complete list of tuition by field. All rates are from 2020–2021.
Funding for Research Degrees
Cornell currently funds 95% of our on-campus doctoral students. The remaining 5% are supported by other funds that include foreign aid, external awards paid directly to the student, and personal monies. Many of our students receive National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships, Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowships, and other prestigious awards in addition to a significant number of research training grants and national training grants administered by faculty. The terms of your award may vary by field of study. For additional information, please contact your field.
Assistantships
Your letter may include an assistantship. Assistantships are a type of financial support that include teaching and/or research to advance your education and the university’s academic mission. Students on assistantships receive stipend checks twice a month beginning in August provided they maintain good standing in their academic field and satisfactory performance in teaching and research assignments.
Fellowships
Your letter may contain details on a fellowship. Fellowships provide financial support to graduate students to pursue graduate studies without teaching or research responsibilities. Students with fellowship support typically receive a lump sum at the beginning of each semester. Students on fellowships must maintain satisfactory progress toward the degree and remain in that field of study.
Duplicate Awards
Cornell does not allow students to hold both a major outside fellowship and a university award. If you have both, please contact your graduate field to discuss the arrangements.
Funding for Professional Degrees
Professional programs at Cornell provide limited financial assistance. The terms of the awards may vary by program. For more information, please contact your field of study. Loans are available for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. For more information, please contact the Financial Aid Office at finaid@cornell.edu.
Cornell is in the
TOP FIVE
UNIVERSITIES in National Science Foundation research funding.
Biomedical engineering graduate student Jeremy Keys researches the biological and physical factors which regulate the spread of cancer throughout the body. A Graduate School Research Travel Grant provided funding for him to travel to the Advanced Imaging Center at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at Janelia Farms in Ashburn, Virginia. Here he used highly precise microscopy equipment to capture high-quality videos of cancer cells migrating through a 3D environment. Keys chose Cornell because “doing graduate research is so often fraught with uncertainty and small failures along the way. Surrounding oneself with a supportive core of an excellent advisor and other mutually understanding grad students can make the long-haul of a Ph.D. immensely more rewarding.”
CORNELL IS CONSISTENTLY RANKED
in the top
20 BEST UNIVERSITIES IN THE WORLD.
(Times Higher Education World University Rankings)
support for research and scholarship
With $1.07 billion in research funding, one of the 10 largest research libraries in North America, and 150 centers, institutes, laboratories, and programs, we support your research and scholarship, offering a range of opportunities from research travel grants to professional development programs.
Opportunities
At Cornell, we are committed to your academic success. In addition to academic support programs offered by the graduate fields, the Graduate School and our campus partners offer programs to help you succeed academically, professionally, and personally.
Sample programs: Academic Support
• Thesis and dissertation boot camps, research skills English Language Support
• Writing and speaking English, peer tutoring Navigate Academia
• Fellowship writing workshops, transitioning to graduate school
Cornell has one of the 10
LARGEST RESEARCH LIBRARIES
in North America.
Leadership and Management
Research and Conference Grants
To offset the cost of research and conference travel, the Graduate School offers grants to provide the means for you to conduct research off campus or to present your research at a conference.
• Summer Success Symposium, Colman Leadership Program Library
• Immersion programs, digital humanities Statistical Computing Services
• Software tutorials and tutoring Advanced Computing
• High performance computing tools and concepts
315 6,535 967 WITH
The Graduate School held
WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS
PARTICIPANTS
HOURS OF
PROGRAMMING
student experience
OUR GRADUATE STUDENT POPULATION IS GLOBAL
AND DIVERSE
JIANXIN HUO As a public health student, Jianxin Huo is interested in how food systems affect the health of both humans and their environment. She studies public health nutrition with the goal of developing better food and nutrition programs in local communities to encourage healthier, more sustainable food choices. Huo earned a bachelor’s degree at Cornell and stayed for a master’s due to the food systems concentration in the public health program as well as Ithaca’s natural beauty. “I found my home at Cornell.”
LARA FRESKO MADRA Lara Fresko Madra challenges the distinction between the aesthetic and the political through her studies of works by seven Turkish artists. A doctoral candidate in history of art, archaeology, and visual studies and recipient of the prestigious Newcombe Fellowship, Fresko Madra is examining contemporary art from Turkey and the ways in which these works represent and reflect the country’s past. Fresko Madra chose Cornell for its welcoming nature. Her graduate field supported her interest in contemporary art, along with her professional experience. “The field of art history at Cornell was one of the few places that appreciated my professional experience as a writer and curator.”
DREA DARBY
VICTORIA ORTEGA Biomedical and biological sciences doctoral student Victoria Ortega researches the Nipah virus, one of the World Health Organization’s top priority pathogens. By studying the virus’s infection mechanism, she is helping to work toward a potential vaccine or drug development target that will inhibit viral entry into host cells in case of a future outbreak.
Drea Darby, a doctoral student in entomology, studies the impact of nutrition on infection in fruit flies to understand how high sugar diets lead to higher risks of bacterial infections in people with certain medical conditions. “I want to use the power of the fly to further our basic understanding of the mechanisms behind the impact of nutrition on infection.” The culture of support at Cornell was a draw for Darby. “Out of all of the schools I applied to, I felt like Cornell had the most support for me as a person and a graduate student.”
Winner of a Ford Fellowship, Ortega has volunteered as a Graduate School Ambassador and peer mentor. “I have had the wonderful opportunity to meet many people from diverse backgrounds and cultures through the different diversity, outreach, and professional development programs Cornell has to offer.”
CALLUM KINGWELL Doctoral student Callum Kingwell studies bees and their chemical communication systems. “One of the implications of our work on sweat bees is that some of the most important signals used by social insects in fact predate the evolution of social behavior.” Kingwell chose Cornell due to the program’s flexibility, which allowed him to split his time between Cornell and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, as well as the ability to study neurobiology and behavior through an entomology and chemical ecology lens. At Cornell, “there is a special emphasis on understanding the mechanistic bases of behavior that matches my interests closely.”
JASON CHANG Jason Chang, a doctoral candidate in biomedical engineering, researches the biological mechanisms underlying mammalian tendon regeneration. He hopes to develop more effective tendon healing therapies resulting in less visible scars and restoring pre-injury function. Chang knew Cornell was the right choice from his first visit when he felt overwhelming support and a strong sense of community from administrative staff, students, and faculty. “Cornell actively fosters an environment that encourages its graduate students to extend their training beyond the research lab which I knew would allow me to grow tremendously as a scholar and future educator—and so I committed to the program before I even got on the plane back home!”
preparing for
your future
% 91
OF ALUMNI WOULD PURSUE A DOCTORAL DEGREE AT CORNELL AGAIN
GRADUATE EDUCATION IS MORE THAN COURSEWORK, RESEARCH, AND SCHOLARSHIP. We prepare you for your future. Whether you are headed for a career in industry or one in higher education, we have programs designed to help you reach your goals, including job search discussions, informational seminars, and hands-on workshops.
Building Mentoring Skills
Graduate students work hard to perfect their curricula vitae and resumes, teaching and research statements, and cover letters as they look toward their future careers. At Cornell’s Graduate School, one professional development workshop focuses on helping graduate students become better mentors, a useful skill for academic or non-academic careers. This workshop series, Building Mentoring Skills, helps graduate students develop effective communication and mentorship skills essential not only to their future careers, but also in their current roles.
Getting to Graduation
Our time-to-degree is one of the shortest in our peer group and far shorter than the national average. This means that as a Cornell graduate student, you would likely spend a shorter number of years working toward your degree than would your peers at other universities— allowing you more time to focus on your desired career path. Cornell has programs designed to help you navigate all aspects of graduate school, including writing boot camps, leadership programs, and workshops discussing topics relating to mental health and wellness. The Pathways to Success Program provides a holistic approach to professional and personal development.
Career Outcomes
Students explore their mentoring philosophies, communication and conflict resolution skills, and awareness of diverse student needs as they read case studies and discuss mentoring techniques. To Anna Wallis, a doctoral candidate in plant pathology and microbe biology, mentoring represents a large part of her responsibilities as a Ph.D. student, and she hopes to be in a position to mentor others in her future career. “While I’ve had the opportunity to work with many students in both classroom and lab settings, I have never had any formal training in mentorship,” she said. “I’ve had several incredible mentors in my academic career, and I hope to have a positive impact on future scientists.” Similarly, Lauren Genova, a doctoral candidate in chemistry and chemical biology, found that the workshop was helpful for those pursuing careers outside of academia. “The skills and resources I gained are invaluable to any career path – and will help you out tremendously in your current role.” This workshop is one of 315 professional development oppor tunities available through the Graduate School’s Pathways to Success, a suite of academic, career, personal, and professional development offerings designed to help students navigate academia, develop a plan, and prepare for their future careers.
We asked alumni who graduated between two and 20 years ago to tell us about their careers. • Cornell
alumni work in over 56 countries, and more than half work in education
• More
than half of alumni with physical sciences and engineering degrees work outside of education
• Top
five employers of Cornell alumni: Cornell University, Google, Intel, National Taiwan University, Harvard University Lauren Genova, chemistry and chemical biology, attending a professional development event.
community
enjoying the
Ithaca is consistently named among the
BEST COLLEGE TOWNS
by Travel + Leisure, Best College Reviews, and The American Institute of Economic Research.
Cornell is more than a place. It’s a community intimate enough that you can run into friends at the grocery store, but large enough to support 7,200 graduate and professional students and more than 1,000 student clubs. Here, you will develop friendships and partnerships, often outside your field, that will last a lifetime. A genuine sense of camaraderie—particularly between faculty and students—fosters collaboration and community. Supportive staff members help guide you through your life at Cornell.
Ithaca has a bustling social scene with dozens of bars and restaurants, music venues, theaters, and one of the best farmers’ markets in the country. The newly renovated Commons, an open-air pedestrian mall that’s at the center of the town’s dining, shopping, and entertainment scene, hosts events like the Downtown Ithaca Apple Harvest Festival and the Great Downtown Ithaca Chili Cook-Off. Ithaca even has its own winery, Six Mile Creek Vineyard, one of 16 wineries, one cidery, one meadery, and four distilleries along Cayuga Lake, which Cornell’s campus overlooks. The lake and surrounding gorges offer great spots for activities like kayaking, hiking, jogging, swimming, or simply taking in the beautiful scenery, which includes more than 100 waterfalls.
Living in Ithaca is
AFFORDABLE
Housing prices in other college towns and cities compared to Ithaca: • Philadelphia: 13% higher • Portland: 23% higher • Seattle: 32% higher • Boston: 36% higher • San Francisco Bay area: 67% higher • New York City: 115% higher (source: bankrate.com)
Montreal 5 hours
WHERE ARE WE? Toronto 4.5 hours
Niagara Falls 3 hours
Ithaca
Boston 5.5 hours
New York City Philadelphia
4 hours
4 hours
Washington, DC 6 hours
Learn more at www.visitithaca.com
There are many hangouts on Cornell’s campus, including cafés, coffee shops, and food trucks. The Big Red Barn Graduate and Professional Student Center is located in the geographic center of our campus. With events ranging from a weekly happy hour to teaching assistant grading breaks, the Big Red Barn is the heart of the graduate and professional student experience. Signature events: TGIF Happy Hour, Chocolate Tasting, Super Bowl Party, Faculty/Student Wine and Cheese, Pumpkin Carving, Year End BBQ
2,225
respond to your offer
NEW
GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL STUDENT
ENROLLMENTS
Council of Graduate Schools Resolution Regarding Graduate Scholars, Fellows, Trainees, and Assistants Acceptance of an offer of financial support (such as a graduate scholarship, fellowship, traineeship, or assistantship) for the next academic year by a prospective or enrolled graduate student completes an agreement that both student and graduate school are expected to honor. In that context, the conditions affecting such offers and their acceptance must be defined carefully and understood by all parties. Students are under no obligation to respond to offers of financial support prior to April 15; earlier deadlines for acceptance of such offers violate the intent of this resolution. If in those instances a student accepts an offer before April 15, and subsequently desires to withdraw that acceptance, the student may submit in writing a resignation of the appointment at any time through April 15. However, an acceptance given or left in force after April 15 commits the student not to accept another offer without first obtaining a written release from the institution to which a commitment has been made. Similarly, an offer by an institution after April 15 is conditional on presentation by the student of the written release from any previously accepted offer. It is further agreed by the institutions and organizations subscribing to the above resolution that a copy of this resolution should accompany every scholarship, fellowship, traineeship, and assistantship offer. A list of other universities that are signatories to the charter is available at www.cgsnet.org.
Accept Cornell’s offer of admission online at
www.gradschool.cornell.edu/response
Resources for New Students
Graduate School Offices
New Students Office
Dean’s Office
New graduate students can find important information and checklists to help you transition to Cornell. The site becomes live in April of each year. You will not be able to sign in to track your progress until you have accepted your admission offer and activated your netid, but you can see all offices and requirements without signing in.
• Establish policies and vision, provide resources, and
Cornell Health
• Academic integrity/misconduct, responsible conduct of
newstudents.cornell.edu
health.cornell.edu Cornell Health Services is an accredited ambulatory health care facility and primary care medical provider with services for all students. Services include medical, counseling and psychological services, physical therapy, and health education.
dean_gradschool@cornell.edu oversee governance
• Resolve conflicts and administer grievance procedures • Foster communication with and about the graduate
student community
Academic and Student Affairs
gradacad_assoc_dean@cornell.edu • Academic policy, programs, and student support
research, and grievances
• Petitions requesting exceptions to policy • Academic support programs
Careers Beyond Academia gradcareers@cornell.edu
• Graduate student career awareness
Student Health Plan (SHP)
• Experiential career exploration
The Student Health Plan, developed especially for Cornell students, is reviewed annually by a committee of students, faculty, and staff members. The plan meets or exceeds all F-1 and J-1 visa requirements, as well as all health insurance standards developed by the American College Health Association. SHP participants can enroll dependents in the plan for an additional fee.
Future Faculty and Academic Careers
Students with Disabilities
• Assistance in navigating your program and resources
studenthealthbenefits.cornell.edu
www.sds.cornell.edu
Information shared by a student about his or her disability is confidential and is not shared with any academic department or unit. Staff in the Student Disability Services Office can confidentially answer your questions about services, documentation requirements, and campus accessibility.
International Services Office of Global Learning
international.globallearning.cornell.edu Information, assistance, and referrals for international students on a range of issues including: immigration, housing, finances, cultural adjustment, and personal and social situations.
• Workplace skill development
futurefaculty@cornell.edu
• Teaching and future faculty programs • Research mentoring certificates
• Online courses through Center for the Integration of
Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) Network
Graduate Student Life janna.lamey@cornell.edu for academic support
• Referrals to on- and off-campus services • Support for student concerns
• Balance and resilience programs
Inclusion and Student Engagement grad_assoc_dean@cornell.edu
• Diversity recruitment and Ambassador Program
• Diversity fellowships and Dean’s Scholars Program
• Professional, leadership, and community development • Ongoing mentoring and support for current students
Student Services
gradstudserv@cornell.edu • Admissions, fellowships, and funding • Registrar and student records
Diversity and inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities.